tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77900811431455631372024-02-21T13:37:06.533+00:00Red Wine Gems (the wine, not the posts)A rank amateur attempts to teach himself something about wineTobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-50320763659902710712015-12-14T00:33:00.000+00:002015-12-14T00:33:05.069+00:00My new blog is at: http://sustainablewineblog.com<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've now decided to focus my wine writing, such as it is, on sustainable wine. By that I don't just mean organic, or biodynamic, or natural wines, but also climate change, and other, wider issues in wine sustainability. The new blog can be found at: <a href="http://sustainablewineblog.com/">http://sustainablewineblog.com</a></div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-89898617307016851902015-07-31T22:17:00.000+01:002015-07-31T22:17:03.273+01:00Great wine infographic from Vivino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzAJEfmQUPiamJK0qm_YANXrUaY5Z1tfo8oRkb7-dW27fH3EmEqea28NiEfdGVFEbImHHbQpqf4y8hCiv1JcIxPGnMJ7dy6j2ObxipmwNypjh2dDF-ow8RToZP03V5G7tInQdmg4H-cA6/s1600/infographic-1a33a915fd5902db974b344e2c504e32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzAJEfmQUPiamJK0qm_YANXrUaY5Z1tfo8oRkb7-dW27fH3EmEqea28NiEfdGVFEbImHHbQpqf4y8hCiv1JcIxPGnMJ7dy6j2ObxipmwNypjh2dDF-ow8RToZP03V5G7tInQdmg4H-cA6/s1600/infographic-1a33a915fd5902db974b344e2c504e32.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: http://www.vivino.com</td></tr>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-83915821439760138272015-07-23T23:49:00.004+01:002015-07-23T23:55:30.467+01:00Wine and climate change <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been to at least 30, maybe 50 vineyards since 2012.<br />
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At every one, I've asked the winemaker about climate change and temperature rises.<br />
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All of them, bar none, have noticed higher temperatures than in the past.<br />
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This is because, as you will likely know, alcohol levels are going up.<br />
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More sugar in the grapes from earlier ripening of course pushes up alcohol levels.<br />
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Meanwhile climate change makes weather more volatile, which doesn't help grape quality.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqnA4FimnH6q1NWTZBi5mmAXh39ogw6DkrMRBxmPySartO-jlLLos8bIgK8MaxoJEhgVznjzZpWR0vJC1WUX0292I7W9TdGS_gTMRq3ioyRJhC-8LgSuW5b5V0ASEbNh8HhYcfNAu4LJb/s1600/climate-change-top-310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqnA4FimnH6q1NWTZBi5mmAXh39ogw6DkrMRBxmPySartO-jlLLos8bIgK8MaxoJEhgVznjzZpWR0vJC1WUX0292I7W9TdGS_gTMRq3ioyRJhC-8LgSuW5b5V0ASEbNh8HhYcfNAu4LJb/s1600/climate-change-top-310.jpg" /></a></div>
As Jancis Robinson noted recently:<br />
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"<span style="background-color: #fff1e0; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Hotter summers have played a key part in boosting average percentages of alcohol from roughly 12-12.5 in the 1980s to 13.5-14.5 today."</span><br />
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So far of course, all this has been offset by much better vineyard practices, more technology used in wineries, yeasts, and increasingly, use of biodynamic farming methods to help with natural pest control and encourage soil balance and vineyard fertility.<br />
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But as Robinson points out, this doesn't always solve the problem:<br />
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"<span style="background-color: #fff1e0; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Growers have observed to their dismay that grapes have been accumulating the sugars that ferment into alcohol much faster than they have been accumulating all the interesting elements that result in a wine’s flavour, colour and tannins — the phenolics."</span><br />
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Alcohol levels have also been pushed by competition in the old world with the new world wines which have more alcohol, climate change aside, due to growing temperatures.<br />
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Add to this the 'Parkerisation' of much of the wine industry (By which I mean forward fruit, higher alcohol trends originally driven by the US market and US market-making of Robert Parker) and the picture does become complex.<br />
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But that hasn't stopped top wine makers talking about having to <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ea9bda5c-c82f-11e4-8fe2-00144feab7de.html" target="_blank">add water to wine</a> in the future.<br />
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Or 99.999% of scientists agreeing the temperatures are going up. 0.8 of one percent globally so far, with a lot more to come, alas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1g1BiyBnp8VpyW5StMWyRaT_9xfs5FSUpJi2wKR8yZeg2NHlSvI3ZFg7zNRIgNcwI07JeS9NDmzDL35KDBMJiBjJJ2reJFwNGwh1p4C0oN612tbvura7koE_Tk9JvEp9PcZfpj4Ge5zM/s1600/nytimes_wo_wineweather_300px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1g1BiyBnp8VpyW5StMWyRaT_9xfs5FSUpJi2wKR8yZeg2NHlSvI3ZFg7zNRIgNcwI07JeS9NDmzDL35KDBMJiBjJJ2reJFwNGwh1p4C0oN612tbvura7koE_Tk9JvEp9PcZfpj4Ge5zM/s1600/nytimes_wo_wineweather_300px.jpg" /></a>So climate change is a big worry for wine makers, drinkers and the industry in general.<br />
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One winemaker I met in Languedoc last year lost his entire crop in 2013 due to a tornado.<br />
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That may not be specifically due to climate change. I am sure it wasn't, but it may be a sign of things to come.<br />
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<a href="http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/bordeaux-faces-40" target="_blank">This article</a> from JancisRobinson.com offers a few indications of how vineyards may soon tackle climate change.<br />
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Some of the changes afoot in the midst of recent 40 degree celsius weather in Bordeaux during June include:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Less trimming of leaves, normally done to give exposure to the morning sun </li>
<li>Using 'roof tiles' on young vines to protect them from the sun</li>
<li>Putting in anti-hail nets to protect fruit from volatile weather (like in 2013 in Bordeaux)</li>
</ul>
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Other techniques I have heard about from winemakers (the Perrin family who own Beaucastel) include using new types of yeast in fermentation.<br />
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Another is <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ea9bda5c-c82f-11e4-8fe2-00144feab7de.html" target="_blank">physically planting</a> vines in directions better suited to wind and weather. I'll be looking into these in further posts.<br />
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-23684087296549554672014-08-30T14:26:00.002+01:002014-08-30T14:31:39.769+01:00Balthus 2007, world class 'garagistes' wine for £30 ish a bottle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmbR0CgxgkMe1nahYZ0ZH92DkilCVUQLxjYxyWab1izZkt5kBIbNA0l9BqNuFNcp7PpA4qQeipYdbFL6oTZ_CvqZrxYYQ49040oZv_wYhXqVMcndxl3-_x21LJVHh7fKKqNM7mQ3ShnXM/s1600/Balthus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmbR0CgxgkMe1nahYZ0ZH92DkilCVUQLxjYxyWab1izZkt5kBIbNA0l9BqNuFNcp7PpA4qQeipYdbFL6oTZ_CvqZrxYYQ49040oZv_wYhXqVMcndxl3-_x21LJVHh7fKKqNM7mQ3ShnXM/s1600/Balthus.jpg" height="320" width="129" /></a></div>
Of course most of us don't drink £30 bottles on a regular basis.<br />
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I don't. My stock wine at the moment is <a href="http://redwinegems.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/domaine-la-sarabande-great-value.html" target="_blank">Domaine de Sarabande 2010/11</a> at just over a tenner a bottle.<br />
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Alternatively the UK Wine Society has superb Rhone wines at as little as £7 each. <a href="http://redwinegems.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/cotes-du-ventoux-les-traverses-paul.html" target="_blank">Paul Jaboulet</a> is one name to try, well known in the region.<br />
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But now and again you want to try something a bit special. Something a little rare or unknown.<br />
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Balthus is one of those wines. It's not super cheap, but it's a wine that has apparently beaten first growth wines at ten times the price in blind tastings.<br />
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Fine and Rare have it at £200 for six. A bit punchy on price? Maybe. But for what you get it's worth it.<br />
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It's from a tiny vineyard where they work really hard to only use the best of the best grapes, with lots of pruning early on to make the vines work really hard in producing the best grapes possible.<br />
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Then they use a slightly different process in production. <a href="http://www.reignac.com/en/wines/balthus.html?m=43" target="_blank">Read all about it here</a>. And the "garagistes" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garagistes" target="_blank">movement/style here</a>.<br />
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The result is a really concentrated, 100% merlot wine that's quite different from anything else I've had. It needs a lot of time in the decanter. I would suggest four hours, then saving half for the following day.<br />
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Wine can't breathe enough (within reason) in my view. I had 1967 Bordeaux the other day that my friend finished the following day and said it was much better.<br />
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The Balthus is quite acid to start, but when it opens, really silky, smooth and rich. The tannins fall away and the concentrated dark fruit lingers wonderfully.<br />
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Highly recommended as a wine to show off to friends over dinner, given the tiny production and approach taken by the makers. Always nice to drink something wonderful with an unusual story behind it. Particularly when you know some people have paid 10 times the price for similar wines voted not as good as this by the experts.<br />
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More on how it scores <a href="https://winelibrary.com/wines/42172-06-chateau-balthus-la-reserve" target="_blank">is here</a>.<br />
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Here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0INBymjklgU" target="_blank">fun video of the taste test</a> where it beat so many top wines.<br />
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-4335231622704346782014-07-26T18:12:00.003+01:002014-07-26T18:14:13.085+01:00The Wine Society's 1914 wine list<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A friend of mine sent <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/Tobiaswebb/wine-society-list-july-1914" target="_blank">me this the other day</a>. The names, descriptions and general look and feel mean it's a bit of fun, and history to peruse.</div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-63404734829752989802014-07-26T18:10:00.000+01:002014-07-26T18:10:38.578+01:00Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2005 - Fantastic Aussie grape juice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LaAKU7Y2OXZ2_E63g8MIGwRHmqrblejfrA4RtciqBequk8ryOYvWFrkBtFpEm8Q9jdLTEHKBnFiNa4770oy9R3wdiRij2NctSovXQBjwQjvbWtUNLA_0OkhfYoMD_RflRfyULdd4RTtD/s1600/IMG_4403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LaAKU7Y2OXZ2_E63g8MIGwRHmqrblejfrA4RtciqBequk8ryOYvWFrkBtFpEm8Q9jdLTEHKBnFiNa4770oy9R3wdiRij2NctSovXQBjwQjvbWtUNLA_0OkhfYoMD_RflRfyULdd4RTtD/s1600/IMG_4403.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
This is a superb Aussie Riesling by Jeffrey Grosset in South Australia.<br />
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The Clare Valley, where it's made, looks pretty stunning from <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=clare+valley&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB570GB570&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VN3TU-LFFe_Y7AaZ2oHQAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1367&bih=916" target="_blank">this collection of google images</a>.<br />
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I'd be the first to admit to not knowing much about Australian wines, particularly the whites. Being so close to France here in London it's easy to be snobby about New World wines, particularly the whites.<br />
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That's why I'm mentioning this one on the blog. It's a superb example of what is, for me, an unusual white.<br />
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I've had a fair few Rieslings from Europe and they can be, as you will likely know, very varied. The range is possibly greater than any (or at least many) other grape(s).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSTEhzOETPN3l6nLsBCr0IsnfowHlpSs9E-_EJ6uY-dPxIcqkp1KESUSypMV5R7AfLbOO08E0ExSrIk-Ze-pVIa1VCJzg_d3xvfmbAiW_R6GddX193LCaLIpzwozvPQmHNEaJiHs06zS-/s1600/IMG_4404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSTEhzOETPN3l6nLsBCr0IsnfowHlpSs9E-_EJ6uY-dPxIcqkp1KESUSypMV5R7AfLbOO08E0ExSrIk-Ze-pVIa1VCJzg_d3xvfmbAiW_R6GddX193LCaLIpzwozvPQmHNEaJiHs06zS-/s1600/IMG_4404.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Some can be, for me, a little too sickly sweet. That's personal given that the older I get, the less I like sugar in any form, even now in wine. Funny how your palate changes.<br />
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This was a gorgeous dry Riesling. What I found extraordinary about it was that you taste it in phases. I counted about five 'things' happening across a mouthful.<br />
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I've not encountered that quite so distinctly in any other wine I've had, which is why I must taste it again to check.<br />
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Here's what the maker <a href="http://www.grosset.com.au/2005/06/grosset-springvale-watervale-riesling-2005/" target="_blank">has to say about it</a>.<br />
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Jancis Robinson gives it 18.5 from 20 and said: "Intensely introvert and mineral. Very pure yet full bodied...Very persistent and fine. Racy and pure." I am not entirely sure what all that means, but this stuff is lovely. It seems to be hard to find, but worth the search if successful. </div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-43330077584961034552014-06-30T18:09:00.003+01:002014-06-30T18:09:29.172+01:00A trip to champagne, in photographs <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BXB_ZR9pOWtR9x1jzQOMlHF8b0yYZUGRh8kky-5MIN45jn6HmLVv0S_yGiSOMqsbpjN3-VWws5c-G0rJe91cgIR0bBh2BYXRF_A_DBcxLliyXSrOtUS2jIp8EyzqJyWXdD-WJqMM60AB/s1600/IMG_0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BXB_ZR9pOWtR9x1jzQOMlHF8b0yYZUGRh8kky-5MIN45jn6HmLVv0S_yGiSOMqsbpjN3-VWws5c-G0rJe91cgIR0bBh2BYXRF_A_DBcxLliyXSrOtUS2jIp8EyzqJyWXdD-WJqMM60AB/s1600/IMG_0123.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Chateau de Rilly, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; text-align: left;">Rilly-la-Montagne. A lovely spot to stay and explore the region from</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsdI13VU_ZAFwu_YuR-zPM2xa7NALEZkjhuw-Q4Kjuy7BEMxHHLrH73vLZca7uG3hTjp0yY6IIiEiEIVB8T4fM4tk5L40SsQ9JRA8WuLC1zGrpTT7O26MVVMvFS3dj8ls56IwrWXEAvBF/s1600/IMG_3840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsdI13VU_ZAFwu_YuR-zPM2xa7NALEZkjhuw-Q4Kjuy7BEMxHHLrH73vLZca7uG3hTjp0yY6IIiEiEIVB8T4fM4tk5L40SsQ9JRA8WuLC1zGrpTT7O26MVVMvFS3dj8ls56IwrWXEAvBF/s1600/IMG_3840.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster sarnie in a local one star Michelin in Ay. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LHA6RAvIMbCYrqFVcp7vDOGvzAL9YtuQRHUinUW2EXyhQgdY4myD2mUtQ5_6D-clGjhyphenhyphenEHOaluGZF5st0XBctuyf9VkRtM9v7EsepB7681fEx5SOfngpfzi6698lpykLdamxotbWOsvq/s1600/IMG_3854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LHA6RAvIMbCYrqFVcp7vDOGvzAL9YtuQRHUinUW2EXyhQgdY4myD2mUtQ5_6D-clGjhyphenhyphenEHOaluGZF5st0XBctuyf9VkRtM9v7EsepB7681fEx5SOfngpfzi6698lpykLdamxotbWOsvq/s1600/IMG_3854.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The champagne lunch menu. All local/grower champagnes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWDkhw_P2daLdCmPzeLN5ryfIjws_MEoR5lIPXlW-d-0dLKOAivwg5HnBN3zUQq7gGL2U-hxX48AixXGucy0KPo1GIBRGcS6ZmaOB4hzArsx7KE_iQXOJ7STXjsnjrHoh0ZbqmDnDzcT3/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWDkhw_P2daLdCmPzeLN5ryfIjws_MEoR5lIPXlW-d-0dLKOAivwg5HnBN3zUQq7gGL2U-hxX48AixXGucy0KPo1GIBRGcS6ZmaOB4hzArsx7KE_iQXOJ7STXjsnjrHoh0ZbqmDnDzcT3/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger Brun's English export Champagne. As drunk in barracks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6cfnehqU_fCZC0ZB5YX-ptqmlEtcIxf9CyNxB-UUBiA9plP0jwLmocnQHJEXvNlvDAzRyfENTt9nxX0EdRfdSsH-0E0jVdV8K0CPi_nm7cTcCLgB2G5gL589-VCSZR2mqdWTLsy9czAI/s1600/IMG_3858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6cfnehqU_fCZC0ZB5YX-ptqmlEtcIxf9CyNxB-UUBiA9plP0jwLmocnQHJEXvNlvDAzRyfENTt9nxX0EdRfdSsH-0E0jVdV8K0CPi_nm7cTcCLgB2G5gL589-VCSZR2mqdWTLsy9czAI/s1600/IMG_3858.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillipe Brun offers wonderful local/grower Champagnes at his Cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0vpZxSHyzR2mZhshBtJXSLUNClEU9JHIbCD6zqksUbPsC4TGRzmbjgsQ7oRnwwxdJJpRD-9U6SECOZy57ZEYf-dC2qIxciVq04uuSe4J0t3iAMP2ea8NixaHmoQOm3unr5ESVBjtMw8K/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0vpZxSHyzR2mZhshBtJXSLUNClEU9JHIbCD6zqksUbPsC4TGRzmbjgsQ7oRnwwxdJJpRD-9U6SECOZy57ZEYf-dC2qIxciVq04uuSe4J0t3iAMP2ea8NixaHmoQOm3unr5ESVBjtMw8K/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well worth a visit to Roger/Phillipe Brun's Cave in Rilly </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaujve6RaxUyl1ovXr2P9E1ZdZRSUzuGS3SdaQ_cZUotCuWBoTkYcZJ2oKfbCZL1FPIPVPvdbRMWIaO3iBcFcO8TQwnv8x82NJpO0oGnsPhjKR404XWMkn26yQJvbALzkYbIAibSjnQTy/s1600/IMG_3872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaujve6RaxUyl1ovXr2P9E1ZdZRSUzuGS3SdaQ_cZUotCuWBoTkYcZJ2oKfbCZL1FPIPVPvdbRMWIaO3iBcFcO8TQwnv8x82NJpO0oGnsPhjKR404XWMkn26yQJvbALzkYbIAibSjnQTy/s1600/IMG_3872.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some of the millions of champagne bottles ageing at Moet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt38Uexp10iN0NqKxriH_7tWenA41uXf1WbX1NVt2b-oH9jHD94O7tJsAdc9QcYqzXIq2jnuYfhm9lc2LO1KbctMEX8Z7qnwRN8eVYnxrjGVdcLuYJiF7xd21KelOd2Pr3M_7IyoGOIO9/s1600/IMG_3874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt38Uexp10iN0NqKxriH_7tWenA41uXf1WbX1NVt2b-oH9jHD94O7tJsAdc9QcYqzXIq2jnuYfhm9lc2LO1KbctMEX8Z7qnwRN8eVYnxrjGVdcLuYJiF7xd21KelOd2Pr3M_7IyoGOIO9/s1600/IMG_3874.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a few more. 28kms of tunnels, many dug by hand in the 19th Century</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pjGz6gmxRjUXaAr-cDKP9lZQd64RrAZafg_2FUSjDNvpW3o2F3hXkHE86A6FpIC0HfzkAuubsrwWFzlwJm_tBs_Rhk_e2XeeTtc3dwZMvEfpxF_dU1VDsPfCsYluN8sRSa0W5NOzeqnP/s1600/IMG_3887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pjGz6gmxRjUXaAr-cDKP9lZQd64RrAZafg_2FUSjDNvpW3o2F3hXkHE86A6FpIC0HfzkAuubsrwWFzlwJm_tBs_Rhk_e2XeeTtc3dwZMvEfpxF_dU1VDsPfCsYluN8sRSa0W5NOzeqnP/s1600/IMG_3887.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The world's largest wine barrel in the foyer at Mercier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEbetUJVAER_SkcNA7fCjj7VqFW_SwU_vYCBOBt4P74IOcurPaTz36uW0kCgOFK7eTXr2ne0_Q26OsHJGaa-5_pBDIZ-liDAKzNNZ9fuDdOdGYQiEPIBB1uFL2NivVv4OOOAiEfzCSSkN/s1600/IMG_3890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEbetUJVAER_SkcNA7fCjj7VqFW_SwU_vYCBOBt4P74IOcurPaTz36uW0kCgOFK7eTXr2ne0_Q26OsHJGaa-5_pBDIZ-liDAKzNNZ9fuDdOdGYQiEPIBB1uFL2NivVv4OOOAiEfzCSSkN/s1600/IMG_3890.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reconstruction of how it used to be at Mercier </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2sS5DedjKvSPc7pKKEU4ifpuccee_f3jSR7dzA2u0Hm8cRpIz1c5YUa645p4e6j2ll1JYfFvkjsgW9IQeeSWHafuo477YQL0v6zO7oSY9PwZzuFfFIUMNYby0CWIwrWstz1ybZZCx2dR/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2sS5DedjKvSPc7pKKEU4ifpuccee_f3jSR7dzA2u0Hm8cRpIz1c5YUa645p4e6j2ll1JYfFvkjsgW9IQeeSWHafuo477YQL0v6zO7oSY9PwZzuFfFIUMNYby0CWIwrWstz1ybZZCx2dR/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classy display of ageing champagne bottles in Mercier's 18kms of cellars </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRxdfI6Wr68GiakO5JGe7eKpc8QnLNeQInSbCKQn6qiW2tauP-mGNrBKYSb2QwFlsbzQlDkuzUsHpjeQWe1bZ8EuD7MraEIa8_U6hf8s6oI6d3gSa7JlN2-QodzCBEir9HX88sPtpA1vJ/s1600/IMG_3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRxdfI6Wr68GiakO5JGe7eKpc8QnLNeQInSbCKQn6qiW2tauP-mGNrBKYSb2QwFlsbzQlDkuzUsHpjeQWe1bZ8EuD7MraEIa8_U6hf8s6oI6d3gSa7JlN2-QodzCBEir9HX88sPtpA1vJ/s1600/IMG_3932.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No words needed here </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFOt2wbnI9mE5t7gv_g7M0teun-USd3tGYHab4eHzMi2TJWtfMWFNHTA-VimpEhlqKnA-sclCOTRpXGUl_fyin7XjiZWD85tG3VmVBQ5OcgIpgphtIpuTrOEXOU84CPL0pRanpM1q61VQ/s1600/IMG_3937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFOt2wbnI9mE5t7gv_g7M0teun-USd3tGYHab4eHzMi2TJWtfMWFNHTA-VimpEhlqKnA-sclCOTRpXGUl_fyin7XjiZWD85tG3VmVBQ5OcgIpgphtIpuTrOEXOU84CPL0pRanpM1q61VQ/s1600/IMG_3937.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting a tasting before dinner in the vault/cellar at Mercier </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Eklv00jxb3Vxmea_lrct6wRQC9VwO8msgKikn8eOK5OgUNvWKr-9Vr7LbNEyMOJ6ZqN0ctCh6HT9AjtDv3pxmQjveE8MQsL3LcizDz2onTyoT4MZObVKMnwzuTzIq8mEsciGi9fxh7VM/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Eklv00jxb3Vxmea_lrct6wRQC9VwO8msgKikn8eOK5OgUNvWKr-9Vr7LbNEyMOJ6ZqN0ctCh6HT9AjtDv3pxmQjveE8MQsL3LcizDz2onTyoT4MZObVKMnwzuTzIq8mEsciGi9fxh7VM/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't talk enough how about how good their champagne is. Stunning. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqKWrDiTDsZ0nDYAFrPF58-db4CFIRBJ9r6yX1oIuzEYXfSYbNd4DgDtK4Scg48Ml0rJIW2ibZNNUtRmCQU4ZBcbNm56ozjs4Dmo_HhD5iYBgE3OIT0kf65REJ-8h3GcOL9QHDS6tsCFP/s1600/IMG_3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqKWrDiTDsZ0nDYAFrPF58-db4CFIRBJ9r6yX1oIuzEYXfSYbNd4DgDtK4Scg48Ml0rJIW2ibZNNUtRmCQU4ZBcbNm56ozjs4Dmo_HhD5iYBgE3OIT0kf65REJ-8h3GcOL9QHDS6tsCFP/s1600/IMG_3955.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday dinner in the Mercier vault/cellar. 30 metres underground. Wow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUBLRrpAxBjYtbgzBpoWCB9IhKGPs88uEiFF3VZHAXVnYYh_um7JcXwSrIt6dvAK49X1c72e_XpIpoyutO1ocqFQYHDkDuXS3HPczgDS_0o8ci0itosB1jb4lFK0JY4azYOiM9ktLEiBO/s1600/IMG_3971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUBLRrpAxBjYtbgzBpoWCB9IhKGPs88uEiFF3VZHAXVnYYh_um7JcXwSrIt6dvAK49X1c72e_XpIpoyutO1ocqFQYHDkDuXS3HPczgDS_0o8ci0itosB1jb4lFK0JY4azYOiM9ktLEiBO/s1600/IMG_3971.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner, all with Mercier's best champagnes. Who says<br />you can't have white/rose with beef?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRfceEk0hw5ZNK6Gg99xxW9VGqMM4TyVa-_jcnbDMwzk_xV173oUzz8u6ZkrK-rglm1s3usJuimzVfhh30zu4IcsIlh58rL84pTPGWdcUg28v7yoVWKpWyG_R0qGQUZ49d_FrIme1n0iY/s1600/IMG_3996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRfceEk0hw5ZNK6Gg99xxW9VGqMM4TyVa-_jcnbDMwzk_xV173oUzz8u6ZkrK-rglm1s3usJuimzVfhh30zu4IcsIlh58rL84pTPGWdcUg28v7yoVWKpWyG_R0qGQUZ49d_FrIme1n0iY/s1600/IMG_3996.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reims Catherdral, nearby. Gorgeous</td></tr>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-48277349682527430372014-06-25T19:29:00.000+01:002014-06-25T19:29:37.194+01:00A quick look in the Berry Brother's vintage cellar <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week I was lucky enough, with a few friends, to have a quick tour of the Berry Brother's cellars in London. The shop alone is worth a visit if you are in central London. The photos below speak for themselves, some lovely old wines in here, the earliest from the early 19th century. </div>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-62757917808694281942014-06-25T19:16:00.001+01:002014-06-25T19:16:57.197+01:00Agathon, Mount Athos, Evangelos Tsantali 2007: Organic Greek claret, yes really<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyehvfQlSMArLM1MhsB_JJImcj5UcR1q3rdpMQqOn8m3be-qVnXdHuegmXqLkjKCBDL6FTyxtuguQmZDy8LbafK7CRc3AxUSfdDJbozXwP4YmVdQKEIW5BNyHqWpW4hYCm-PoCYE8lG0p/s1600/IMG_4325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyehvfQlSMArLM1MhsB_JJImcj5UcR1q3rdpMQqOn8m3be-qVnXdHuegmXqLkjKCBDL6FTyxtuguQmZDy8LbafK7CRc3AxUSfdDJbozXwP4YmVdQKEIW5BNyHqWpW4hYCm-PoCYE8lG0p/s1600/IMG_4325.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very decent indeed</td></tr>
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Well not quite.<br />
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Claret of course can only be from Bordeaux.<br />
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Unless, that is, you are <a href="http://winefolly.com/update/24-funny-wine-quotes/" target="_blank">Basil Fawlty</a>.<br />
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But I blind tasted you on this you would swear this was 5-10 year old cabernet sauvignon from the left bank of the Gironde. You really would.<br />
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It took a while to come out of its shell and definitely needs 12 or 24 hours of decanting. I've had it open for 48 hours in the fridge with the air sucked out of the bottle and it's now really opening up.<br />
<br />
And yes, it's from Greece. A blend of organic local Limnio and Cabernet grapes, it's really both a gem and a bargain.<br />
It has the classic claret flavours for me. A little age, black fruit, a hint of smokiness and some tannins to give it character.<br />
<br />
For £10.99 a bottle it's well worth a try. Here's where I bought it, my first purchase I think, from <a href="http://www.swig.co.uk/wine_details.aspx?id=OAGATHONR10B01" target="_blank">UK wine site Swig</a>.<br />
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I'm a sucker for well written wine pitch from the various websites I sign up to for updates on wines. They sold me on the location as much as the tasting notes:<br />
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"The vineyards lie on the slopes of Mount Athos in Macedonia, which takes its name from the mythical giant, Athos, who threw an enormous boulder at the god Poseidon, but his aim was poor and it landed in the Aegean Sea, creating the rocky peninsula named after him. Known today by most Greeks as ‘Holy Mountain’, it is home to twenty monasteries (see photo above), where Eastern Orthodox monks live and work and farm the land organically. Evangelos Tsantali, the winemaker, buys their grapes and continues those principles in the winery, making a wine that is certified as fully organic."<br />
<br />
"The blend is an even split between the local grape variety, Limnio, known for its velvety influence on a wine’s texture, and Cabernet Sauvignon. A double act similar to Bordeaux, where Merlot adds soft flesh to Cabernet’s muscle. Its gentle flavours and fine aromatics can be attributed to the fact that the vineyards sit at a height above sea level that confers warm days, but cold nights – the essential recipe for aromatic expression."<br />
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Swig Tasting Note: “Medium deep Morello cherry colour with just a touch of brick showing at the rim. It has a delicately perfumed, Claret-like nose, with a lovely hint of autumnal maturity. It’s the sort of wine you want to sip slowly and keep coming back to, as it unfurls slowly in the glass. There are all the classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes of blackcurrant leaf, plum and capsicum, framed by notes of pencil shavings and powdered spices from the 8 months spent in new French barriques. The fruit on the palate is soft, ripe and subtly spiced, old-fashioned, almost, in its fine-grained texture and has the feel of a carefully handmade wine. The Claret-like impression on the nose gives way to a sunnier character on the palate, more reminiscent of a Tuscan Cabernet, with notes of dark cherry, cassis, laurel and the mellow aromas of mahogany and chestnuts. It’s not a ‘modern’ wine, so I wouldn’t recommend it if your default choice of red is a Californian Merlot, but it’s a lovely wine to serve just below room temperature and enjoy with a big cote de boeuf, a haunch of venison or barbecued lamb chops. 14% alc. Drink now-2017.”</div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-49132323212127749122014-06-16T23:08:00.001+01:002014-06-16T23:10:05.330+01:00Handy wine bottle size chart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-74031775868673734212014-06-16T23:06:00.001+01:002014-06-16T23:07:08.734+01:00Useful map of the wines of France<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwcQptYLyLQt9_smo8yWhg3DBSEMKb1fWroickpZzwAlCq0_MTRnwxr88gxSf5J7UMpCoBD47VCzMs9BRlfwDEoOHWXllEsQLYB3kL52kDBQYdy2PtEwJBPO1ecpi4xq8xXwc_2A7Fh_e/s640/blogger-image--515328825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwcQptYLyLQt9_smo8yWhg3DBSEMKb1fWroickpZzwAlCq0_MTRnwxr88gxSf5J7UMpCoBD47VCzMs9BRlfwDEoOHWXllEsQLYB3kL52kDBQYdy2PtEwJBPO1ecpi4xq8xXwc_2A7Fh_e/s640/blogger-image--515328825.jpg"></a></div>Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-8105148205897302152014-06-16T18:18:00.001+01:002014-06-26T09:11:06.888+01:002001 Ronchi di Cialla 'Cialla Bianco' Colli Orientali del Friuli - Longest wine name winner and a cracking aged Italian white <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiNFrVv_THKTTs43F5Hd1d5Ym93t-Xtf_lrOt6XWkD05PCKyRieFB6OR8uJ65Qsfvgf1UcSm41wVjDRnVIcKZKvC8ae9Iu5sIGhuH_XFd-fvv0CiGMuYVjVR8MS66y7OyHbjrX0b23_Lo/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiNFrVv_THKTTs43F5Hd1d5Ym93t-Xtf_lrOt6XWkD05PCKyRieFB6OR8uJ65Qsfvgf1UcSm41wVjDRnVIcKZKvC8ae9Iu5sIGhuH_XFd-fvv0CiGMuYVjVR8MS66y7OyHbjrX0b23_Lo/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>This hard-to-find Italian white from Friuli, if you can get it, is well worth searching out.<br />
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I had no idea, until a couple of years ago, how well some whites can age. <br />
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I've had whites from Western Sicily that were 20 years old. Others from the Loire region in France almost as old. <br />
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Champagne, famously, can age very well. But other whites don't usually, as I suppose, most reds don't either. <br />
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Wine-searcher.com has a little information <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-103387-2001-ronchi-di-cialla-cialla-bianco-colli-orientali-del-friuli-friuli-venezia-giulia-italy" target="_blank">on this wine here</a>. And if you are really keen you seem to be able to buy it in <a href="http://www.cuvees.com/white/ronchi-di-cialla-ciallabianco-2001-friuli-venezia-giulia-italy-750ml" target="_blank">HK dollars here</a>.<br />
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This one was a beauty. It opened up after 30 minutes in the bottle once opened, and has a richness and a texture you just don't seem to get outside Burgundy in younger whites (in my limited experience) </div>
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<a href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=684482" target="_blank">More reviews are here</a>. I'll be seeking out some older vintages from this under-rated region. </div>
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We tried it at the ever excellent <a href="http://www.10greekstreet.com/" target="_blank">10 Greek St</a> in London, which has the best value wine menu that I have found in London (make sure you ask for the 'other' wine list)</div>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-84480207130779584802014-06-08T21:10:00.001+01:002014-06-08T21:16:31.342+01:00Volnay Vielles Vignes 2009 - Alliterative Burgundy for fans of claret<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An eye opener for a Burgundy novice like me</td></tr>
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<pre wrap=""><pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regular readers of this blog, if there are any, may note that I don't blog much about Burgundy. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is for a really simple reason. I don't know much about the region, or the wines. I haven't had the time or the budget to explore the decent stuff. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, being completely honest, Pinot Noir is really not my favourite grape. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I often find it a little lightweight for my tastes, which are far more Bordeaux, Rhone valley or Languedoc aligned when it comes to French wines. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, I'd be the first to admit to not having tried much decent burgundy, given its cost and my slight prejudice against the grape. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one region I have always been a fan of which focuses on Pinot Noir is Central Otago in New Zealand. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in 2009 I was in Marlborough and Queenstown and tasted quite a few South Island Pinots. Many of the Central Otago wines I had, I loved. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have an intensity and complexity that I enjoy in other regions. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've got a case of </span><a href="https://www.bbr.com/products-18618-2010-rippon-vineyard-rippon-mature-vine-pinot-noir-c-otago-new-zealand" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">2010 Rippon Vineyard, Rippon Mature Vine</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> which I am really looking forward to tasting at some point soon, probably Christmas.</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyhow, back to Volnay. Now this is a find. The manager of the wine bar in Prague where I tried this last week told me many of the wines from this area have these below characteristics. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><a href="https://www.invino.com/wine/pinot-noir-poulleau-volnay-burgundy-2009/PPFVVV09v3.html#.U5TBoZRdU8w" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Some more about it is here, from Invino.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. A lot more is </span><a href="http://www.burgundyeye.com/wine/winegrowers-merchants/beaune-south/domaine-poulleau-m-pere-et-fils/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here, and this link is worth a click.</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you can find this wine, it's about £20-30 a bottle, as </span><a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dom+poulleau+pere+volnay+cote+de+beaune+burgundy+france/2009/-/-/a?Xhide_nearest=N" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">far as I can tell</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are my tasting notes from the half bottle we tried:</span></pre>
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<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2009 Domaine Poulleau Pere & Fils Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rich acid nose, spicy, earthy forward fruit. Minerality, definite age on the front of the palate and then the Pinot breadth and smoothness kicks in. Long finish, bit of oak and vanilla (but in a very good way!)</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This wine was a bit of an eye opener for me. I haven't had a Burgundy like this before. That's more likely due to my ignorance (in fact it definitely is). This wine really ticked all the boxes for me and I'll be hunting out more in the future.</span></pre>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-51472943206508533622014-06-08T13:44:00.001+01:002014-06-08T13:49:25.049+01:00Chateau Ricardelle La Clape 2009, Cuvée Juliette 2009 - "Prepare the hounds"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Love the label</span></td></tr>
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<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you like big punchy but complex reds, there's plenty of Australian wines out there that meet that requirement, apparently. I just haven't had many of them yet. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The key word is complex. I've found plenty of big Aussie reds, and even bigger South African ones, but I do find them a bit one dimensional. Sorry. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've clearly not had the right ones (although I did have some of <a href="http://www.vergelegen.co.za/" target="_blank">Vergelegen's</a> best and was not that wowed at the time) </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I tend to stick to French reds, and the odd Southern Italian too. You just cannot beat either region for value. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the eponymous <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g274707-d1541548-Reviews-The_Wine_Bar-Prague_Bohemia.html" target="_blank">Wine Bar </a>in Prague recently (<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x470b94f93e4e1f5f:0xc8e4ea526eb3af7a!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/116311454483714074504/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5sthe+wine+bar+prague+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=gU6UU77cC8PX7AaF4IGQBA&sqi=2&ved=0CJQBEKIqMAs">here's a few photos of the place </a>) I discovered yet another Languedoc wine that I knew/know little about. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This <a href="http://www.chateau-ricardelle.com/laclape.html" target="_blank">Chateau Ricardelle La Clape</a> 2009 is a great example of a powerful, aromatic, silky yet complex modern red from this under rated region. Family owned, according to <a href="http://www.sud-de-france.com/en/entreprises-sud-France/1422,chateau-ricardelle" target="_blank">this site</a>. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvG8aK4LcdESqlFxmXZS36ELJT3Kd_OSefQt-l4Di-ZGK7yzysiIbYhrhxQbWs_xc8tWYjd48pwI3k1NnHEUyYTsKGOIqS_idHZXA7_kczl8HHsJoqW6tAoYsPfAuKpV_U40mI74FzpN-/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvG8aK4LcdESqlFxmXZS36ELJT3Kd_OSefQt-l4Di-ZGK7yzysiIbYhrhxQbWs_xc8tWYjd48pwI3k1NnHEUyYTsKGOIqS_idHZXA7_kczl8HHsJoqW6tAoYsPfAuKpV_U40mI74FzpN-/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The vineyard is very close to the sea near Narbonne in the far south of France, an area I visited last summer when I had a look at <a href="http://www.gerard-bertrand.com/en/domaines/chateau-l-hospitalet/" target="_blank">Gerard Bertrand's L'Hospitalet</a>. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a post on <a href="http://redwinegems.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/gerard-bertrand-la-forge-2000-hidden.html" target="_blank">that particular visit </a>from September 2013.</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Cuvée Juliette 2009 which I tried in Prague is, according to the bar manager who knows the Chateau personally, named after the wine maker's daughter. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The label is fantastic, good to see a Chateau with some imagination and creativity. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wines are very reasonably priced too. This exact wine is hard to track down but the others from Ricardelle seem to be <a href="http://www.bbr.com/producer-2849-ch-ricardelle-la-clape" target="_blank">under £15, even from BBR</a>.</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Cuvée Juliette 2009 is a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, a blend common in this area, and is aged in French barriques for 12 months. My tasting notes are here:</span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><pre wrap=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ricardelle</span></b></pre>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Huge, smooth, dark berry cassis, and chocolaty flavours, 14.5% alcohol but slips onto the palate and has a finish like rich velvety silk. Alcohol taken to its limits but balanced given the huge fruit. Has a complexity that some 'Parkerised' wines lack. A man's wine (generally speaking!), no doubt. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the high alcohol levels (unavoidable this far south it seems) it went wonderfully with the utterly superb beef bourguignon in Prague's Wine Bar (linked above and well worth a visit), and pictured below. Both wine and wine bar are well worth a visit if in Prague or Southern France.</span></pre>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The simply named "Wine Bar" in Prague does superb nosh</span></td></tr>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-46377878360119265932014-06-06T09:26:00.004+01:002014-06-08T13:44:53.831+01:00Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi - Punchy italian white that represents good value<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14.5% but don't let that put you off...</td></tr>
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One of the many pleasures of travelling around Europe is the wines you find which you don't see much of at home. Or more likely, just hadn't looked at much.<br />
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This Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi 2009 I discovered in a restaurant in Prague after much googling of the wine list to match something with seafood.<br />
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I know almost nothing about the region, or didn't until I read a few articles, but this is a wine I would advise checking out.<br />
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It's not for the faint hearted though.<br />
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Here are my tasting notes from last night:<br />
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Dry, rich, reminiscent of
bone dry white bugundy but with a focus that feels Italian. Restrained
nose. The age of this 2009 is coming through. Strong acid, zero
citrus/lemon (hooray) </div>
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Slightly off bitter finish. High alcohol <span __postbox-detected-content="__postbox-detected-date" class="__postbox-detected-content __postbox-detected-date" style="display: inline; font-size: inherit; padding: 0pt;">at 14.5</span> which adds to the texture, but you wouldn't know it was quite that much unless you checked. Definitely a palate cleanser but also so much more than that, lots of complexity. </div>
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According to several reviews the finish is supposed to be of toasted almonds, but my palate is clearly not advanced enough for that. </div>
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More about the region <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-verdicchio+dei+castelli+di+jesi" target="_blank">is here</a>. The Riserva, as so often in Italy, is worth paying a few Euros more for, apparently. </div>
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<a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-verdicchio+dei+castelli+di+jesi" target="_blank">Wine-searcher </a>makes it sound compelling enough simply by describing the location:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.527999877929688px;">"The Castelli dei Jesi wine-producing zone encompasses the hilly territory around the town of Jesi in the province of Ancona. This area features fortified villages which were built here in medieval times, and which give rise to the Castelli part of the DOC name. The </span><a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/technical-wine-terms-q-t.lml#terroir" style="background-color: white; color: #2955bb; line-height: 22.527999877929688px; text-decoration: none;" target="_self" title="'Terroir' definition">terroir</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.527999877929688px;"> here is ideal for the production of mineral-tinged dry white wines, thanks mostly to its calcareous, clay and limestone-rich soils and a relatively dry </span><a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/technical-wine-terms-m-n.lml#maritimeclimate" style="background-color: white; color: #2955bb; line-height: 22.527999877929688px; text-decoration: none;" target="_self" title="'Maritime Climate' definition">maritime</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.527999877929688px;"> climate."</span></span></div>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-77079902365528133352014-04-27T11:17:00.002+01:002014-04-29T07:04:23.170+01:00A chance to try some Sicilian wines off the beaten track<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Berry Brothers has what looks like a well researched and reasonably priced (though not particularly cheap) <a href="http://www.bbr.com/offer-s14" target="_blank">offer on Sicilian wines at the moment</a>.<br>
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Having spent some time there myself indulging, I can attest to the quality and originality of Sicily's wines.<br><br>
The Berry Brothers blog tour with lots of detail, which is well written and researched, <a href="http://bbrblog.com/2014/04/24/sicily/" target="_blank">starts here</a>.<br>
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I went with these to try a cross section. I'll report back in with tasting notes in due course.<br>
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2011 Quota 600, Etna Rosso, Graci, Passopisciaro, Sicilia 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£29.00<br>
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2012 Perricone, Porta del Vento, Camporeale, Sicily 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£14.95<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br>
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2013 Catarratto, Porta del Vento, Camporeale, Sicily 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£15.95<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br>
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2012 Kerasos, Nero d'Avola, Valdibella, Camporeale, Sicily 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£12.50<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br>
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2011 Grappoli del Grillo, Marco De Bartoli, Marsala, Sicily 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£23.25<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br>
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2011 Faro, Bonavita, Messina, Sicily 75cl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>£24.95<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-50440755490758526422014-04-19T11:57:00.003+01:002014-04-19T11:57:33.248+01:00Bisquertt Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009 - A very decent Chilean quaffer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a solid easy drinker from Chile's Colchagua valley.<br />
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Now at five years old it's got a certain maturity, lots of forward fruit with balanced oak (i.e. not too much vanilla) and black cherry, some cloves and cassis.<br />
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You can't seem to go wrong with Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. I've not had one I disliked.<br />
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Some are over the top on the fruit, the alcohol and the American oak (which gives the vanilla undertones)<br />
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This one was around £14 bought at duty free in Guilin airport in China.<br />
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Some of the other wines from Bisquertt seem to be a lot cheaper, the same in USD, so perhaps I over paid.<br />
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On the other hand this is apparently a reserve so who knows.<br />
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Anyhow, it's nothing hugely special, but goes down wonderfully as I drink it here in Taiwan on holiday, with, of all things, wasabi soy nuts.<br />
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Not ideal food matching, but the Bisquertt can handle it.<br />
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Perhaps this wine is not to everyone's taste, but very tasty nonetheless. A Burgundy fan probably won't like it.<br />
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The producer has a lovely website, and says Wine Spectator rated it a top value 2009 Cabernet.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bisquertt.cl/en/vino_lajoya.php" target="_blank">Their site is here</a>, worth a look around.<br />
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-32313803800760048732014-04-02T21:14:00.001+01:002014-04-19T11:38:33.423+01:00CNP Du Pegau 2005 - simply stunning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_r0cA2iICi-USA33PguaHeH8sXJKAoQc212ptMmz533ztYPqJYXp2TATRwSTPUn60rcHkpcMHQqvgAiwtgbnU1ieFZHL4ta6KrEFv5OZv-dcNfEx7DEJ9ZVOnjOYcl1R_DhVbg7ueuyQ/s640/blogger-image--269625764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_r0cA2iICi-USA33PguaHeH8sXJKAoQc212ptMmz533ztYPqJYXp2TATRwSTPUn60rcHkpcMHQqvgAiwtgbnU1ieFZHL4ta6KrEFv5OZv-dcNfEx7DEJ9ZVOnjOYcl1R_DhVbg7ueuyQ/s400/blogger-image--269625764.jpg" width="300" /></a>This Pegau 2005 is without a doubt the greatest CNP I've ever had.</div>
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That may not be saying much given my limited experience but I've had a few beaucastel wines of various vintages.</div>
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None have matched this wine so far.</div>
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I had it in my current favourite London restaurant, 10 Greek St, over lamb, which it suited perfectly. </div>
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It was a few weeks ago and I neglected to write any tasting notes. I was too busy enjoying the Pegau.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KiSvf-q94kXpH16GHTY1D-9WHBXW2NElBo3b1ZJjcEqcqpuN9TluNrSy2yGDKqpokL8BMNOUEoDiOc2fOOjGbYgdIWi2kvaFx8qCH_jmYYU2WqfVFMfxWnYwXghi2h4f6r0su1LqbWsp/s640/blogger-image--29135008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KiSvf-q94kXpH16GHTY1D-9WHBXW2NElBo3b1ZJjcEqcqpuN9TluNrSy2yGDKqpokL8BMNOUEoDiOc2fOOjGbYgdIWi2kvaFx8qCH_jmYYU2WqfVFMfxWnYwXghi2h4f6r0su1LqbWsp/s400/blogger-image--29135008.jpg" width="300" /></a>Many rate 2005 as a 19/20 wine year. There are not many of them. 1945, 1961, 1982, 1990. Perhaps 2000 but I disagree with including that year. The Bordeaux wines of 2000 taste well, a bit green, a bit thin for me.</div>
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This 2005 Pegau is a rare beast these days. Demand must be high and stocks low. Experts at London's Hedonism wines (a must see) say they can't get hold of any. </div>
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It had everything you want in a great CNP: A slight mustiness, open, full but subtle fruit, plenty of complexity and an intensity that filled the mouth and lasted much longer than you'd expect. </div>
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It was around £50. At restuarant rates that's an absolute steal. </div>
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It's around £30 at retail. Here's some background on the chateau.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1570703669"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/pegau-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/p" target="_blank">It's around £30 at retail. Here's some background on the chateau.</a></div>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-65911061591099495132014-04-02T20:44:00.001+01:002014-04-19T11:59:06.621+01:00Gerard Bertrand Minervois 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv06dPA-AO6Fez93KRLu-WJhxFabiGwgvyiuz1vxXpyEgi7NAelucHM4jkh-RVw4UMJhvVviYbcN87r86J4Y6k5KS8lI63xfqaqSWundblALqb3CCqW26URYce5L5bxKTSz_D04dGPrtV/s640/blogger-image-754247749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv06dPA-AO6Fez93KRLu-WJhxFabiGwgvyiuz1vxXpyEgi7NAelucHM4jkh-RVw4UMJhvVviYbcN87r86J4Y6k5KS8lI63xfqaqSWundblALqb3CCqW26URYce5L5bxKTSz_D04dGPrtV/s320/blogger-image-754247749.jpg" width="240" /></a>This carignan and syrah (surely shiraz?) blend is truly excellent value in a Languedoc region that undoubtedly combines big quality flavours and low prices like no other.<br />
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At around £8-9 from UK retailer Waitrose you can't go wrong. </div>
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The blend is well balanced, lasting and benefits from a couple of hours in the decanter. Big alcoholic fruit, but never overpowering. As it oxidises it mellows. </div>
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I visited the vineyard near Beziers in August 2013 and was impressed with it variety, scale and hospitality.</div>
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Their top wines can age 10-15 years, which is highly unusual in the region. </div>
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Faugeres, not far away, with its schist soils, also has some very solid wines, as long as you don't mind big flavours and high alcohol. Par for the course considering the sun, grapes and terroir.</div>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-37368491735039020012014-03-23T23:48:00.000+00:002014-03-23T23:48:18.743+00:00Excellent and rare aged white from the Loire: Domaine aux Moines Savennieres 1998, yes, I said 1998<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About as unique as white wine gets, and I<br />mean that in a good way...</td></tr>
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This is a really unusual white wine. I'm usually a red man, but am developing my white wine palate sporadically.<br />
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My tastes run to the stronger, heftier wines around. Although I draw the line at about 14.5% alcohol and am not a fan of the huge South African or Australian reds with over powering alcohol and/or fruit.<br />
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Back to whites, I have discovered good white Burgundy in recent years (<a href="http://www.bbr.com/products-946493-2008-meursault-en-la-barre-domaine-antoine-jobard" target="_blank">2008 Meursault </a>being a particular but pricey favourite).<br />
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Also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Carbonnieux" target="_blank">Carbonnieux</a> from Bordeaux is a cracker, if not cheap.<br />
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This white on the left here, <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-6615-1998-domaine-aux-moines-savennieres-la-roche-aux-moines-loire-france" target="_blank">Domaine aux Moines 1998</a> was an extraordinary find at Vinoteca in Soho, recently.<br />
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It's amazing aged white wine. You rarely see whites this old that are not sweet wines, so if you can find it, it is well worth a try. The dryness comes off as it breathes, although one out of the three bottles I have tried had gone over the edge. It's hard to explain how it tastes. Like nothing else in white wine.<br />
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Imagine a Sancerre with more richness, breadth and a little, well 'edge' to it. Plus the aged flavours. Not to everyone's taste, but very tasty nonetheless. It's about £15-20 at retail prices, which is a real steal, if you can find any left. </div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-44797364826213588182014-03-02T20:49:00.005+00:002014-03-02T20:51:22.160+00:002003 Dofi, superb Priorat at a very good price, if you can buy it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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According to a few sources, winemaker Alvaro Palacios is an established wine legend, making unusual wines in Catalunya, Spain, home of the the under-rated priorat grape.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vintnerselect.com/Producer_Sheets/Spain/PALACIOS,%20ALVARO.pdf" target="_blank">This guide to his work</a> is full of praise.<br />
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Having only tried one of his wines I find it hard to comment.<br />
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The one I did try though, pictured, at <a href="http://www.10greekstreet.com/" target="_blank">10 Greek St</a> restaurant London (ask them for the secret wine book), was an absolute cracker.<br />
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No less than Parker himself gives it 92-94 and he says it is:<br />
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“Super-expressive, rich, and full-bodied,<br />
with wonderfully integrated acidity, tannin, and<br />
wood...."<br />
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It was a couple of months ago when I was lucky enough to try it and that chimes with my memory. I recall fantastic structure which I hadn't expected, and superb full bodied balance and depth. The tannins reminded me of the Gironde.<br />
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It's hard to find and not cheap. We paid about £40-45 in the restaurant, and that looks like the retail price too from what I can tell on <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-75396-2003-alvaro-palacios-finca-dofi-priorat-doca-spain" target="_blank">wine-searcher.com</a>.<br />
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If the 2003 isn't available, the other vintage reviews seem to indicate that Alvaro Palacios is one to watch.</div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-40862186327949720192014-03-02T20:01:00.000+00:002014-03-02T20:03:56.390+00:00Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Risera 2007, two good options<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2007: Bad in Bordeaux but superb in Montepulciano</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From a layman's point of view, i.e. mine, 2007 seems to have turned out quite well in Montepulciano.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back in 2010 <a href="http://italianwinereview.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/vino-nobile-di-montepulciano-2007.html" target="_blank">a blogger</a> who undoubtedly knows more than I, wrote that the:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"2007 vintage was a nervous and aggressive vintage in Tuscany, with brambly acidities and sharpness that have yet to settle out".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Further thoughts and reviews are <a href="http://italianwinereview.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/vino-nobile-di-montepulciano-2007.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been sampling the odd bottle of Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Risera 2007 from a couple of sources over the last two years and I think the vintage must have moved on considerably from 2007.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Riserva vintages are not made every year so one should have relatively high expectations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some interesting background on the region can be found on the Berry Brother's site <a href="http://www.bbr.com/region-3783-vino-nobile-di-montepulciano" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Interestingly, I had no idea how much smaller the production volume is when compared with nearby Brunello and Chianti. Berry's says that: "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG covers only 820ha - compared to 12,000ha for Brunello di Montalcino and 7,000ha for Chianti Classico".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Berry's also writes that: "Stylistically, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano combines the richness of Brunello di Montalcino with the perfume of Chianti Classico. Without the limestone spine of other top Tuscan sites, the wines tend to be medium to full-bodied with firm tannins, lively acidity, fleshy strawberry and cherry fruit and hints of tea leaves. The best examples should age 8 to 15 years while Riservas can last for over two decades."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So if you want to tell your friends you are drinking a wine that is slightly off the beaten track, this is a good one to sample. I find rare tuscan steak and wild boar both go very well with these wines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I like about the two 2007 vintages I have had is that they, unlike some other good italian wines, don't break the bank when you drink them in a restaurant. That matters quite lot given how pricey a lot of decent, and a lot of frankly mediocre, Italian wine can be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First up, the wine pictured is available in London's Boca di Luppo for about £45. That's not bad for such a good eatery (Boca is fabulous, eat at the bar if you can).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.carpineto.com/en/index.aspx/Carpineto%20Grandi%20Vini%20di%20Toscana%20vino%20rosso%20chianti%20classico%20dogajolo%20farnito%20brut/10/34/36/" target="_blank">Here's the producer website</a>. Retail prices seem to be about £18-20 in the UK. That makes it a bit of a gem in my book. Their description of it as "dry, harmonic, fruity and velvety, with an elegant texture and long finish" is a decent one. I would add that it has that lovely slightly aged, earthy Sangiovese tinge on the end and into the finish of a sip. For the price, retail or in Boca, it's a decent option indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second option is <a href="http://www.avignonesi.it/en/products/riserva_grandi_annate_vino_nobile_di_montepulciano_docg" target="_blank">Avignonesi's Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Risera 2007 </a>which I think is even better than the Carpineto above.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I always buy it at <a href="http://www.avignonesi.it/en/stories/negozio_classica_a_london_home_away_from_home">Negozio
Classica</a> in Notting Hill, London, which is one of my favourite places
to hang out. It's always relaxed there, the food is fabulous and the italian
wine selection unsurpassed. The restaurant is part owned by the Avignonesi
vineyard, a trend I would love to see more of, and the benefits are
clear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The Avignonesi Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano
Risera 2007 is not cheap, around £50-60 as a I recall it in the <a href="http://negozioclassica.co.uk/home">restaurant</a>, but as a special treat
it is unmissable. And it likely come with an expiration date given how limited
general Montepulciano production is. Drink it while it lasts. </span></div>
</div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-71734586060284493962013-10-14T19:34:00.001+01:002013-10-14T19:37:34.503+01:00Clos d’Alzan Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues 2011 - A decent bet under £11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very good en primeur buy @£7</td></tr>
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I've mentioned this wine a few times before.<br />
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The 2010 was superb value, particularly en primeur at £7-8 per bottle.<br />
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The 2011, which has just arrived at my door after a long wait, is also excellent.<br />
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Few 2011 Côtes du Rhône wines are as good as 2010, but then 2010 was one of the best years ever.<br />
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In Bordeaux they are saying it will eventually surpass even 1982.<br />
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In the Rhone I am not sure, but I loved the 2010s I had.<br />
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This 2011 was also great value at around £7-8 per bottle, also en primeur, although I had to wait a LONG time for it.<br />
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Now it's about £130 a case, and that's decent value for what you get. It has an unexpected freshness and a fruitiness, with the complexity of the region that other wines in this price bracket lack.<br />
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It's not a "light" wine by any means, but the bottle I tasted was very quaffable indeed, which you don't always think fits with Côtes du Rhône wine. They are not Bourgogne or Fleurie wines, after all. I felt I could really taste the Grenache in it. I suppose you could say it's powerful but very well balanced and accessible.<br />
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I drank it at just below room temperature, at least as first, which may have affected the palate.<br />
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<a href="http://fromvineyardsdirect.com/">FromVineYardsDirect.com</a> where I bought it, describes it rather differently. They say: "A rich and dark Grenache blend boasting lots of blackcurrant fruit, pepper and spice. Impressive power and balance with a lingering finish".<br />
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That's not really what I've had from my one bottle, but nonetheless it's worth investigating, despite the reviewer disagreements.<br />
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At £130 a case, or just under £11 per bottle, it's a decent bet, and you'll be supporting a small vineyard too, rather than supermarket buying practices. </div>
Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-72151606791997330692013-09-29T19:45:00.000+01:002013-09-29T19:48:15.957+01:00Domaine la Sarabande: Great value Languedoc drinking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recent addition to the Sarabande vineyards</td></tr>
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Sarabande is a relatively new addition to the up and coming Languedoc wine region within a region of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faug%C3%A8res_AOC" target="_blank">Faugères</a>.<br />
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It's run by two knowledgeable and friendly folk, Paul and Isla Gordon.<br />
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Their wines, produced from small parcels around Faugères, are superb drinking.<br />
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I was lucky enough to visit their house in the village during August and taste a few of their recent vintages.<br />
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They make several reds and a rose, and promote their work and wine via <a href="http://sarabandewines.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">this enjoyable blog</a>.<br />
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As you'd expect for the region, the grapes are mostly Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache.<br />
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Despite breaking one of the bottles of their wine in my suitcase flying home from Toulouse, I've managed to enjoy several bottles of their rose, mid range and signature reds since August.<br />
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Those I have sampled are pictured below (pinched from their blog but I hope they won't object). Their wines range from 7-8 Euros for the Rose, to 12.50 for the AOP Faugères and 25 Euros for the excellent "Les Espinasses".<br />
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<a href="http://sarabandewines.blogspot.co.uk/p/buy-our-wine.html" target="_blank">Here's where to go to consider buying the wines</a>. For cutting-edge boutique wine (if that's not too silly a term, which it may well be) from an emerging region lots of wine fans are excited about, it's well worth trying a few.<br />
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Les Espinasses, left, is powerful stuff. At 15% it needs food to accompany it, but drinks beautifully.<br />
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I'm finding I am enjoying the good newer wines from the Languedoc more than my traditional Côtes du Rhône at the moment. They seem less predictable. Perhaps because they are new to my palate.<br />
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For value drinking, the bottle just below, AOP Faugères is pretty unbeatable at below £10 a bottle (pre UK tax).<br />
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I'll be buying a case of this as as soon as my <a href="http://www.fromvineyardsdirect.co.uk/wine/alzan.php" target="_blank">2011 Clos d’Alzan Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues 2011</a> is exhausted. That arrives next week from those excellent folk at Fromvineyardsdirect.com.<br />
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<i>(I bought it En primeur at a total cost with tax of about £7.50 per bottle, based on the excellent 2010. </i><i>I'm not expecting it to be quite as good as 2010, but at that price I am sure it will still be worth it)</i><br />
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The Sarabande rose is also below. It's keenly priced, although I found it a little acidic. But that's probably me more than the wine. For some reason I find a lot of rose too acidic to have more than a glass of. For rose fans, I'd say try it, it beats buying from supermarkets any day.<br />
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If interested in buying the wines, contact <a href="mailto:pauldouglasgordon@gmail.com">pauldouglasgordon@gmail.com</a><br />
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790081143145563137.post-9368621260132831502013-09-28T15:47:00.002+01:002013-09-28T20:28:48.023+01:00Gerard Bertrand La Forge 2000 - A hidden Languedoc gem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not cheap, but a rare gem</td></tr>
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I first discovered La Forge in a wine shop in Shanghai.<br />
<br />
An odd way perhaps, but it was via a friend who spends his summers in Languedoc-Roussillon, so perhaps not that much of a surprise.<br />
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The region is by far the best value place in the world for what are now wines of rapidly increasing quality.<br />
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Places such as Corbieres and Fitou have a reputation for bulk wines, mass production and less than average, fruity quality.<br />
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Not any more. Those wines of course still exist, but more and more boutique wineries, and much larger ones, are springing up to take advantage of the soil and weather.<br />
<br />
In the past the Gironde river served as a connecting artery between Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux. Wine used to be shipped down the river to bulk up clarets of the past. Whether this still happens I am not sure.<br />
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This wine, <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-42237-0001-gerard-bertrand-corbieres-boutenac-la-forge-languedoc-roussillon-france" target="_blank">Gerard Bertrand La Forge</a> 2000, is truly a hidden Languedoc gem. I also tried the 2001 and the 2002, plus a few others. The 2000 is a stand out. It is not cheap at around 50 Euros a bottle, but for a rare treat, if you can get it, it's highly recommended.<br />
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In the glass it's the colour of 20 year old left bank claret, with the complexity and smoothness to match.<br />
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<a href="http://www.gerard-bertrand.com/en/wines/wine-library/old-vintages/la-forge/" target="_blank">It's a blend of Syrah and Carignan</a>, the latter being a grape you see less often compared to better known equivalents in Languedoc, such as Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and sometimes Cinsault.<br />
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Given the grape variety, La Forge 2000 lacks the tannins of Bordeaux, but has survived 13 years in vat, barrel and bottle to create a wine of supple richness, smoothness, complexity and a touch of sweetness.<br />
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This is without doubt the best non-Bordeaux aged red wine I've ever had. There are only a couple of hundred bottles of it left, according to our charming guide who took us around the winery. I imagine it does not have long until it is past it's best. The 2002 that we tried had gone over the edge, but the 2001 appears to have some ageing potential left until it reaches the heights of 2000, if that's possible given 2000 is a stand-out vintage in the region.<br />
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Given that wines from the far south of France lack the Bordeaux tannic structure ability to age for 10+ years this was a real find for me.<br />
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I visited the winery, <a href="http://www.gerard-bertrand.com/en/domaines/chateau-l-hospitalet/" target="_blank">Château l’Hospitalet</a>, in mid/late August this year and a few more photos are below.<br />
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It's part of an impressive empire built up by Gerard Bertrand, a former rugby player for the French national side, over the last twenty years.<br />
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In the distance from the top of the hill you can see the sparkling of the mediterranean sea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini-vertical tasting of La Forge 2000, '01,'02,'30. A difficult day.</td></tr>
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Tobias Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885522287288725639noreply@blogger.com0